The pandemic has had a tremendous strain and impact on the economy, but it has also had an impact on society being honest with each other. It sometimes feels as if people are trying to take advantage of you or get over on you without hesitation. Have you taken your car for repairs or servicing lately? If not, good for you. We must be alert in taking our vehicles in for servicing, for too often recommendations are made for making repairs that are unnecessary. Don’t be fooled by the technician telling you how dangerous it could be if you keep driving. My suggestion is to always get a second opinion. Don’t be fooled by their scare tactics. A young lady recently shared with me that she was almost convinced by a car dealership to get a new automobile when her repairs were realistically below $500.00.   

When it was announced in 2020 that we were in a pandemic, our former president said it was all a hoax. Interestingly, many people joined the band wagon and also declared the pandemic was nonsense. Even though thousands of people were dying daily, the public was being fooled by one of its highest public officials. Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric of others regarding the pandemic, for if you are going to put your trust somewhere, maybe it should be with the Center for Disease Control.             

Recently, President Joe Biden stated on 60 Minutes that the pandemic is over. However, CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky was reluctant in agreeing with the president’s assertion that the pandemic is over. Dr. Walensky noted that even though there are currently fewer Americans dying from the virus on a daily basis, hundreds of Americans are still dying of COVID-19 every day-a fatality rate that remains too high (ABC News).    

Unfortunately, we do not always get the truth from the voices we rely on for our best interests and honesty. Let’s not be fooled into believing everything we hear without weighing the facts surrounding any subject matter.

Don’t be fooled by these desperation telephone calls, emails or text messages regarding a family member or friend. For example, the caller will inform you that a love one is in another country and desperately need money to get him or her out of a dangerous situation. Sometimes the caller will even pose as a dear friend of the family.  I can affirm that there have been cases when I have witnessed such a call being made and the love one who is supposed to be in trouble is sitting next to you.

Senior citizens, we are prime bait for those who practice fraudulent behavior. A friend not too long ago was convinced to give up $50,000.00 to some Ponzi Scheme. It sounded like it was too good to be true. Be warned! Anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is.

For all believers in the Bible, we must reach a point on our Christian journey to understand that just going to church is not enough. Too often we get caught up on the ritual of going to church, but not applying the scriptures to our everyday living. It is important that we know and live the Word of God for ourselves. There are times we will use the scriptures to appease our own selfish desires.  We end up fooling ourselves.

Let us not be fooled by deceptions in the church. Jesus even told his disciples to take heed and let no man deceive you. In Matthew 24: 3-8, Jesus says, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, but don’t panic; and there shall be famines, and pestilences and earthquakes, in diver’s places. All these are beginnings of sorrows.”

Don’t be fooled by those who deny Christ’s resurrection and those who reject the need for a Savior. Beware of those who put their own interpretations on the Word of God to fit their own worldly desires. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23   

The message today is very simple, put on the armor of God and keep it on. The Bible tells us that we are fighting a war against Satan, who seeks to destroy us. Let us not be deceived or fooled by the enemy!

Not a sermon, just my thoughts!

Robert Earl Slade, Pastor